The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-06-12
An Exciting Conflict Between the Work.
men of Two Railway Companies.
The Big Four Stubbornly Resists Sly At
tempt of the l.. d. & s. to Cross Its
Tracks Near the Union Depot.
A Temporary Structure of the Id. d 5.
Is Demolished with a Switch Engine.
Party Succeed in Blockading the Tracks
Serious Trouble Appended To-Day.

Five hundred persons stood along the Union
tracks, between Tennessee and Mississippi
streets, last night. aud watched l., ID. d. b ana
Big Four railroad men fight for rightclaime by
both companies. The l., D. & s. road has always
crossed the Big Four tracks at Tennessee
street in order to get on to the Union tracks ana
into the Union Depot for which they have had to
pay $500 month. When the road was built,
seven years ago. they procured the right from
the Council to cross the Big Four at
the point named. and also secured the right
to lay track the left side OF
the Union tracks from Tennessee to Mississippi
street. With the extension of the new Union
Depot a square westward a track laid on the ac-
quired ground would give the road an independ-
emit line to the depot The Big -Four has al
ways refused TO allow the l., d. & S. to cross
their track, and for that reason the line between
the two streets has never been laid. The law
provides that road with legal right to cross
ing has only to connect the crossing to maintain
it. This the l., D. & S. determined to do last
night without apprising the Big -Four Of the
intention.
At $50 o'clock a train loaded with ties, rails
aud one hundred and fifty men was run down to
the contested point. The ties and rails were dis
tributed between the two squares and the men
at 9 o'clock began laying track from Tennessee
street westward. The Big Four people did not
hear Of what was being done until after 10
o'clock and then the information came from
some trainmen that had passed the workmen
There was instantly great stir among the Big
-Four officials and they ordered out their wreck
ing train and fifty men and gave them orders to
stop the work at once.
It was nearly IL o'clock when three hand-cars,
loaded with Big Four men, reached the scene
Among those on board were several of the Off
Gals. The l.. D. s. S. had completed the entire
track between the two streets. and was making
ready to connect across the Big Four. The Off
Gals they could do nothing to stop the men,
and telegraphed for switch engine como
down Immediately and blockade the crossing.
Before the engine came the track had been built
across the line, but it was only a
temporary structure, and was only ex-
pected to last for the time, and
be supplanted by the switch frogs this morning
When the switch engine came. the engineer was
instructed to run into the structure and demolish
it. He backed away half square, and came
opening in the structure, but his engine
thrown from the track and considerably dam
aged. The l.. D. & s. men at once began build
ing new track around the dis
abled engine and twenty -fve or thirty of the
Big Four men began trying to get the engine
back on the track. 1t looked once like they
S. men began piling ties in front and behind
the engine that it could not be moved In
few minutes the T.. D. & s. had made second
connection, and by that time an6ther squad of
Big Four men had arrived, and it looked
much like there going TO be trouble that
the l., d. & S. road master ordered his men TO
remove the temporary structure from the cross
ing to allow the Big Four north bound passen-
ger train to pass. They then assisted the Big
-Four employees in getting their engine back on
the track, and the excitement in measure
Quieted down.
At midnight each road had a large force Of
men at the contending point. In order to pre-
vent the L, D. e. S. people from rebuilding the
crossing the Big Four people had their switch
engine haul train of empty cars from the
freight yard and leave them the crossing.
The engine was kept with them and whenever
a vehicle train had to pass the cars were
pulled to the side-track and then run back over
the crossing.
The L. D. & S. people claim that they have
done all that is necessary to maintain their right
to the crossing, and will proceed. this morning,
to put in a permanent crossing. This the Big
Four people dispute and say the crossing shall
not be made If they have to guard 1t night and
day for all time to come.
The situation began to look rather squaily g..
l o'clock this morning. The threats Of the l.,
d. & S. people to renew their attempt to make
the crossing caused the Big Four officials to Or
der their men to remain on the spot as long rs
l.. D. & S. workmen were around, and to
resist all efforts to carry out the prof.
ect There was still large crowd
about and the excited talk gave rise to appre-
tensions of serious trouble. A telephone mes
sage was sent to the staton-house calling for a
detail of policemen, it was feared riot
might develop. All members of the force who
could be spared from patrol duty were immedi-
ately SEQ the scene.
at 2 o'clock all was quiet, but the forces
of both compaoes were still on the
ground, waiting for Developments. 1t was
expected that attempt would be made by the
l.. D. & S. men to renew their work when the
Big Four train from Chicago came in, making
it necessary TO remove the blockade and if this
should be done the Big Four people will resist
and serious trouble may epsue. The police will
remain guard until the crowd disperses